The American League's Yoenis Cespedes, left, of the Oakland Athletics, celebrates with captain Robinson Cano after winning the MLB All-Star Home Run Derby. KATHY WILLENS, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW YORK – The Dodgers-Giants rivalry certainly doesn't need any more fuel. But it might have gotten some with Giants manager Bruce Bochy's attempt to compliment young New York Mets ace Matt Harvey during Monday's televised announcement of the starting pitchers.

With the game being played at Citi Field, Harvey was a local favorite to start for the National League. The 24-year-old right-hander established himself as one of the top young pitchers in the game with a 7-2 record, 2.35 ERA and NL-leading 147 strikeouts in 130 innings.

"What a tremendous year he's had," Bochy said at a news conference Monday introducing Harvey and Detroit's Max Scherzer as the starting pitchers. "Really wouldn't have mattered what city we're playing in with the year that he's had, the impressive numbers that he's put up."

Talking to reporters away from the cameras afterward, Bochy softened that somewhat, admitting that Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw was every bit as deserving. Kershaw has more impressive numbers than Harvey — he has the lowest ERA (1.98) and WHIP (0.98) in the majors.

But Kershaw seemed wounded by Bochy's televised assertion that the host city wasn't a deciding factor.

"That's his opinion," Kershaw said in clipped fashion. "That's his opinion. Yeah. Whatever. I get it."

Bochy is aware how good Kershaw is. The Dodgers ace is 11-4 with a 1.32 ERA and 0.82 WHIP against the Giants, including 3-0 this season with just four runs allowed in 32 innings.

Kershaw acknowledged some time ago that Harvey would be the NL starter. But he made it clear that understanding the choice did not completely assuage his competitive nature.

"It's not my decision to say who should or shouldn't start," Kershaw said. "The answer I gave I was saying I understand. I definitely wasn't saying I didn't want to start."

CESPEDES WINS DERBY

A Cuban slugger stole the show at the All-Star festivities — and it wasn't Yasiel Puig. Instead, Oakland Athletics outfielder Yoenis Cespedes sent missiles rocketing into all levels of Citi Field — reaching the third deck in left field five times while hitting 17 home runs in the first round — on his way to winning the Home Run Derby.

The last player chosen by AL captain Robinson Cano, Cespedes wasn't selected for the All-Star Game. He reached the break batting just .225, tied for 21st in the AL with 15 home runs — none in his past 19 games and only two in his past 31.

He is the first player to win the Derby and not play in the All-Star Game.

"I feel very grateful to Robinson Cano, who asked me to come," Cespedes said through a translator. "After my first five swings tonight, I could tell I was really into a rhythm and felt I could put on a show tonight."

The Derby hadn't seen a show to rival Cespedes' first round since Josh Hamilton launched 28 home runs into the New York night at old Yankee Stadium in 2008. Cespedes more than doubled the best efforts of any of the seven other competitors.

He added six home runs in the second round when his spot in the final was assured, then beat Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper, 9-8, in the final round. Cespedes' last home run was nearly his longest, estimated at 455 feet. He dropped his bat and raised his hands in triumph as it banged off the camera tower set up in the hitting background.

TWO-TIMER

A year ago, Angels outfielder Mike Trout was one of the youngest All-Stars in the game's history. Admittedly a bit star-struck by the players around him, Trout collected autographs from everyone he could, most notably his boyhood hero, Derek Jeter.

This time, he said he will still be hunting autographs but isn't quite as wide-eyed.

"It feels a little different," Trout said. "Last year was a whirlwind — going here, going there. Now, it's a little easier because I know what to expect."

If anyone was expecting a drop-off from Trout in his second season, former teammate Torii Hunter said they're going to be disappointed.

"You'd think there would be a sophomore slump," Hunter said. "It didn't happen."

CUBAN CONNECTION

Cincinnati Reds reliever Aroldis Chapman defected from Cuba in 2009 and was playing in the major leagues a year later. He said he never met Puig or saw him play before leaving Cuba — but he heard about him.

"I always had people (from Cuba) talk about him to me," Chapman said through a translator. "They always told me about what a great player he was. I kept it in my mind that he was going to play very well here some day."

The latest Cuban free agent, right-hander Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez, has reportedly received clearance by the U.S. government to sign with a major league team. Gonzalez, 30, defected from Cuba earlier this year and established residency in Mexico, where he has pitched for a low-level Mexican League team.

The Dodgers are considered front-runners to sign Gonzalez, though he is expected to receive offers from several teams, including the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs.

NOTES

Baltimore Orioles first baseman Chris Davis tied the AL record with 37 home runs before the All-Star break (Reggie Jackson in 1969). The only player to hit more before the break was Barry Bonds, who hit 39 on his way to hitting a record 73 in 2001. But Davis said he does not acknowledge 73 as the record, saying on a radio show Monday that Roger Maris was "the last guy to do it clean." He reiterated that stance later. "In my opinion, 61 is the record," Davis said. "And I think most fans agree with me on that." ...

Mets third baseman David Wright dismissed it as "just a myth" that participating in the Home Run Derby can send players into second-half slumps. Tigers slugger Prince Fielder was also asked if he thought the Derby could change a player's swing for the second half. "No – 'cause I kind of swing the same way anyway," the two-time Derby champ said.

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